Globex Freight Management is to sponsor the Suffolk FA Referees’ Academy for a fourth consecutive season.

The academy provides a safe environment for new or young officials to develop their refereeing skills, with Andy Wilding, managing director of Felixstowe-based Globex Freight Management, being well aware of how the development of up-and-coming referees is paramount for the future of the beautiful game.

Mr Wilding said Globex Freight Management had no hesitation in continuing their relationship with Suffolk FA for the 2015-16 season.

“As I have stated many times before, I was once a referee myself and yearned the coaching of senior referees to help make me a better official,” he said. “I have been really impressed with the way the Academy has come on during the past three seasons.

“Since hanging up the whistle, I have taken a number of FA courses and I am now a licensed level 2 FA referee tutor. It is good from my point of view to see my young protégés on the line with the flag or in the middle officiating the youngsters at the ITFC academy.

“The way forward for young referees is through the Ipswich Town FC Academy and partnership leagues through Suffolk FA, although the latter has not really taken off I hope that Suffolk FA will continue to progress this.”

Mr Wilding, who has taken up the position as a coach at the academy through his tutoring, said he would like to see the scheme extended to his own club in the future.

“As chairman of Felixstowe & Walton United one of my wishes is that our own Youth set-up eventually becomes a fully-fledged Academy where we can have young referees officiating our youngsters and developing their refereeing careers on the Felixstowe peninsula.”

MR Wilding said that the sponsorship was also beneficial in raising the awareness of his company.

“Sponsoring Suffolk FA is a very good marketing tool for Globex knowing that there are a lot of football-loving businesses that read the Suffolk FA website, so what better way to promote our business than through Suffolk FA?

“Since the sponsorship began the company has received a few enquiries so the venture is well worth the while.”

Globex is a sister company of Omni Freight Services, which has just agreed a three year sponsorship of the Suffolk FA Premier Cup.